Written Answers Thursday 14 January 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the letter of 17 December 2009 signed by all 17 of Scotland’s public health chiefs in support of minimum pricing for alcohol, what other support exists for its Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill.

Nicola Sturgeon: Our Alcohol Bill is receiving growing support, and minimum pricing is now backed by a broad coalition. As well as all 17 of Scotland’s public health directors in NHS Scotland, others supporting our policy on minimum pricing include the four UK Chief Medical Officers, the British Medical Association, the Royal Colleges, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, and the Church of Scotland.

  Last week, the House of Commons Health Select Committee published a detailed report on alcohol which included a clear recommendation for minimum pricing backed by Labour and Liberal Democrat members. The Chairman of the Committee, Kevin Barron MP, said "I agree with the Chief Medical Officer that introducing unit pricing will reduce binge drinking" and the committee dismissed as a myth the claim that responsible drinkers would be affected.

  It is disappointing the some colleagues continue to put party politics before public health, or fail to appreciate the urgent need to put in place measures that would save lives.

Census

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, given the lack of accurate records in relation to certain types of disability, for what reason there is only one proposed general question on disability in the 2011 census.

Alex Neil: It is proposed that the forthcoming 2011 Census in Scotland will give more attention to disability than any previous census, including a question on long-term health conditions with the aim of gathering statistics on the prevalence of certain broad types of condition in the population. Work is in hand to develop appropriate questions for use in social surveys which could allow for more detailed information on specific conditions to be collected.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its total spend was on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009.

Alex Neil: The fuel poverty programme spend up to the end of December 2009 was £20,290,773.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its funding on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009 was used (a) to purchase insulation and (b) for central heating systems.

Alex Neil: We do not have separate funding streams for insulation and central heating. The Managing Agent sub-contracts the delivery of the appropriate measures for each household, which often comprises a package of measures such as a heating system, insulation, and draught proofing. The managing agent bills Scottish Government for the package of measures delivered to each household.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were central heating installations.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were gas central heating systems.

Alex Neil: Of the 5,138 heating system measures delivered between April and end November 2009, 3,863 included mains gas boilers; 1,017 included electric storage heating systems, 186 included oil boilers; 29 included liquid petroleum gas (LPG) boilers; 22 included solid fuel boilers, two were connected to a district heating scheme, and one had an air source heat pump. Eighteen were repairs to central heating systems.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were legacy central heating installations.

Alex Neil: Figures are presented related to financial years, in this case the year is 2009-10.

  Five thousand, one hundred and thirty-eight heating system measures were installed between April and end November 2009. All were funded from the same budget. Some were applications transferred from the central heating programme because, as is always the case, it is not possible to complete all work applied for within the same financial year.

  In order to avoid confusion, the figures are being presented where possible in terms of the fuel poverty programme budget, without disaggregating the measures by the source of the application, but where possible giving a break-down by local authority.

  The Energy Assistance Package does much more than heating systems because it takes an holistic approach to fuel poverty. For instance, benefit checks that increase the household budget have an important impact on fuel poverty. By the end of November, Scottish Government had:

  completed heating system upgrades or installations for 5,138 households;

  installed insulation in a further 3,259 households;

  given energy savings advice in 32,550 instances;

  increased the income of over 553 older households by £921 a year on average, and

  identified an average potential increase to annual income of £2,311 for 148 families who had a benefit check.

Central Heating

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of the term heating system measures in the Energy Assistance Package was agreed with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.

Alex Neil: It was not thought necessary to agree with the forum the use of this term, which is intended to cover the considerable range of measures that are installed: mains gas boilers, electric storage heaters, oil boilers, LPG boilers, solid fuel boilers, air source heat pumps, connections to district heating networks, and, where appropriate, all or part of the ancillary distribution system of radiators and pipework, or repairs to central heating systems.

Climate Change

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the First Minister to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Culture and External Affairs to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Parliamentary Business to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Public Health and Sport to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Housing and Communities to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Children and Early Years to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Community Safety to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Environment to contribute to its climate change targets.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the official activities of the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive to contribute to its climate change targets.

Stewart Stevenson: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 creates the long-term statutory framework for addressing climate change in Scotland, in particular the imperative of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Action is already being taken across many ministerial portfolios to implement the Act’s provisions, including those covering energy, transport, business, agriculture and environment.

  The Climate Change Delivery Plan: Meeting Scotland’s Statutory Climate Change Targets, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 48399), identifies the high level measures necessary to meet Scotland’s emissions reduction targets. The Act requires the Scottish Ministers to publish a report on proposals and policies to meet the annual targets up to 2022 as soon as reasonably practicable after the targets are set in June 2010.

  We committed to assessing the carbon impact of the Scottish Government’s spending from 2010-11 and delivered that assessment alongside the draft Budget 2010-11 on 17 September 2009 (available in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre, Bib. number 49236).

Constitution

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much work has been carried out on identifying budget lines that could be cut to pay for its planned independence referendum.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which budget lines will not be cut to pay for its planned independence referendum.

Bruce Crawford: The referendum will require no cut in Scotland’s budget. Spending next year will remain a planned £34 billion. The referendum will give the people the opportunity to express support for a future where money is released by removing the need to pay, for example, more than £40 million per year for Scotland’s share of the costs of the Parliament in London.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-29290 and S3W-29287 by Jim Mather on 3 December 2009, whether it will consider working with partners to project demand for broadband services and assist in the development of investment plans by infrastructure providers.

Jim Mather: As stated in the response to question S3W-29287, answered with S3W-29290 on 3 December 2009, in the Scottish Government’s approach to our future next generation broadband strategy, I can confirm that we will consider the value of demand-side intervention models. Such intervention could accordingly assist in the development of investment plans by infrastructure providers, as has taken place in the past.

Digital Technology

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, following its announcement in a news release on 9 December 2009 regarding the upgrade of exchanges in rural areas, what minimum amount of megabytes per second these upgrades will provide.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government announced on 9 December 2009 that it had agreed with BT a programme of upgrades to 71 Scottish rural telephone exchanges which are currently operating at, or approaching, full capacity. Forty-five are being upgraded through installation of additional capacity and will provide broadband at a speed of up to 512 kbps. Twenty-six are being upgraded to full ADSL and will provide broadband at a speed of up to eight megabytes per second.

Digital Technology

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone exchanges are broadband enabled.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone exchanges receive (a) a half and (b) an up to eight megabits per second broadband service.

Jim Mather: BT has confirmed that of Scotland’s 1070 telephone exchanges, 1,049 have been enabled for broadband by BT.

  The 21 non-enabled exchanges are located in the Western Isles, and in the areas served by these exchanges, the Connected Communities network, which is owned and managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, provides a broadband service.

  One hundred and eighteen of the 1,049 broadband-enabled exchanges offer broadband services at half a megabit per second, and the remainder (931) all offer broadband services at up to eight megabits per second. When BT’s exchange upgrade programme, announced on 9 December 2009, is complete in October 2010, the number of exchanges offering broadband services at half a megabit per second will reduce to 92, while the remainder (957) will all offer broadband services at up to eight megabits per second.

  Furthermore, BT has confirmed that currently, 42 of its broadband-enabled exchanges have also been upgraded under its separate and ongoing 21CN (21st Century Network) upgrade programme, and these exchanges offer broadband services at up to twenty megabits per second.

Disabled People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making with local authorities in the implementation of the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: Implementing the provisions of the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 is for local authorities to take forward. In order to assist them in doing so, the Scottish Government has set up an Implementation Working Group consisting of representation from local authorities, ACPOS and disability stakeholders. As local authorities are required to report to the Scottish Government on a yearly basis, recording all activity carried out in relation to the provisions of the act, future progress will be clearly monitored. The first reports are expected towards the end of 2011.

Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom assistants are employed in special education in each local authority and how this compares with the figure for each of the last five years.

Michael Russell: Information on the number of classroom assistants employed in special education in each local authority in 2009 can be accessed at table 9.9 in the statistical bulletin Teachers in Scotland published on 27 November 2009. A link to the table is set out below:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/293703/0090773.pdf.

  Similar information for the five preceding years can be accessed using the following links:

  Table 9.9 Teachers in Scotland 2008

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/270926/0080623.pdf.

  Table 9.9 Teachers in Scotland 2007

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/106.

  Table 9.8 Teachers in Scotland 2006

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/27085753/95.

  Table 8.8 Teachers in Scotland 2005

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/99843/0024183.pdf.

  Table 7.8 Teachers in Scotland 2004

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/37432/0011629.pdf.

Employment

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people accessed employment through Inspiring Scotland in 2009.

Michael Russell: Inspiring Scotland is a venture philanthropy organisation which aims to bring public, private and charitable funds to deliver on key social issues. It brings together both funding for services and capacity building for organisations in which it invests. The 14:19 Fund focuses on young people aged 14 to 19 who struggle to enter education, employment or training. The most recent 14:19 Fund Investor Report that provides detail on the first nine months’ activity (January to September 2009) shows that 2,427 young people were actively involved in services, of whom 475 had achieved positive destinations, with 23% going into employment. The Investor Report can be accessed at www.inspiringscotland.org.uk and is available through the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47378).

Enterprise

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to concerns raised over the proposed trade mission to Israel by Scottish Development International.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government supports a number of trade missions to the Middle East, for example last October when SDI visited the United Arab Emirates.

  The trade mission to Israel is taking place as part of Scottish Development International’s planned programme of overseas trade missions. The mission focuses on developing links to assist Scottish companies to secure new investment and jobs into Scotland by developing overseas markets. The mission is being organised in partnership with UK Trade and Investment.

  The government’s position on the situation in Gaza is very clear, and the then Minister for External Affairs, Michael Russell announced a funding package of £427,996 of emergency humanitarian assistance last year to support Scottish-based charities operating in the area.

  The funding assisted the Scottish-based organisations to provide essential aid such as food, hygiene and safe drinking water to malnourished children and families.

Fair Trade

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates or agencies have a policy to increase the purchase of Fairtrade goods and what the effect of such policies has been in the last two years.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s Fair Trade policy is led by the Culture, External Affairs and Tourism Directorate. Across the Scottish Government estate, the staff restaurants sell a range of Fairtrade products and Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar is used for all internal meetings.

  We also provide funding from the International Development Fund to the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, who are responsible for driving forward the Fair Trade Nation campaign across Scotland. A key component of this is raising awareness and increasing the purchase of Fairtrade products, working with schools, universities, faith groups, local authorities and businesses.

  The Scottish Fair Trade Forum was established in 2007. Since its inception, good progress has been made in raising awareness of the range of Fairtrade products available and on delivering on Scotland’s Fair Trade Nation campaign. Further details on the progress made against the targets in the Fair Trade Nation criteria can be found in the Scottish Fair Trade Forum’s annual report http://www.scottishfairtradeforum.org.uk/files/SFTF_annual_report_2009.pdf.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with trade bodies and suppliers of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and heating oil regarding the impact of prices on low-income families who rely on these fuels to heat their homes.

Alex Neil: I have invited the fuel suppliers to discuss the voluntary development of social tariffs for LPG and oil. It is our intention that if such tariffs can be developed, people will be able ask for a referral to check their eligibility by calling the Energy Assistance Package on 0800 512 012.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who rely on (a) liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and (b) heating oil have been provided with advice under the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: Of the households taking up offers of help under the Energy Assistance Package, 1.7% identified their main heating fuel as either bulk liquid petroleum gas or bottled gas and 6.1% use oil. Of the households helped, 7.3% did not identify their main heating fuel and it is possible that some use LPG or oil.

  The following table shows the numbers of people enquiring about the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) and those helped under the EAP, analysed by fuel type, up to 16 December 2009.

  

Main Heating Fuel
Number of Households


Enquiring About EAP
Taking up Offers of Help


Mains gas
 
18,545
18,143


Electricity
 
8,154
7,999


Oil
 
1,989
1,934


LPG
Bulk LPG
505
477


Bottled gas (cylinders)
54
52


Solid fuel
Wood
133
131


Smokeless fuel
109
103


House coal
568
559


Anthracite nuts/grains
62
59


No Value
 
4,175
2,302


Grand Total
34,294
31,759

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of advice on reducing fuel costs provided to people who rely on (a) liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and (b) heating oil.

Alex Neil: Where appropriate, applicants to the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) are offered a referral to their energy supply company, which will discuss access to a social tariff and cost-effective payment methods with eligible households. Tariffs and payment methods are a matter for each energy supply companies and, as yet, EAP cannot offer this type of advice to households who rely on LPG or oil. However, many such applicants will be eligible for other measures available under the EAP, including checks that they are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of advice on improving energy efficiency provided to people who rely on (a) liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and (b) heating oil.

Alex Neil: The impact of advice on improving energy efficiency is generally difficult to assess. Where households who use LPG or oil are referred for insulation measures under Stages 3 or 4 of the Energy Assistance Package, the improvement to the SAP rating is recorded which reflects the potential impact of the package of measures delivered.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of advice on increasing household income provided to people who rely on (a) liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and (b) heating oil.

Alex Neil: Where appropriate, applicants to the Energy Assistance Package are offered a benefits check. By the end of November, 553 older households had been helped by the pension service to increase their annual income, by an average of £921. One hundred and forty eight families have had a benefit check by Citizens Advice Direct, which identified a potential increase to their annual income by an average of £2,311. It is not possible to analyse this by fuel type because the beneficiaries are not identified to the Energy Savings Trust, due to data protection considerations.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have applied to have liquid petroleum gas (LPG) heating systems replaced under the Energy Assistance Package.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have had liquid petroleum gas (LPG) heating systems replaced under the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: One hundred and forty-two callers who used LPG as their main fuel for heating were referred to stage 4 by the end of November. Of these, 29 had been installed and 76 further jobs were being progressed. Nineteen were rejected as not being eligible; of these 14 were rejected because the applicant was unable to provide satisfactory documentation of eligibility to support the application, two were not in receipt of qualifying benefits, one had stayed for less than one year at the property and two houses were not energy inefficient dwellings. Eighteen applications were cancelled for reasons including the applicant not wanting the upheaval, being no longer interested and moving home. Please note that LPG was not available under the Central Heating Programme, but replacement systems are allowed under the Energy Assistance Package.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allow people to have a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) heating system installed under the Energy Assistance Package if they did not previously have such a system.

Alex Neil: The Fuel Poverty Forum will consider the options offered under stage 4 as part of its review of the first year in operation of the Energy Assistance Package.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place regarding improvements to the energy efficiency of households that rely on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and cannot access mains gas.

Alex Neil: Applicants to the Energy Assistance Package are offered energy savings advice, no matter what type of fuel is used for heating. Following an initial check on eligibility, applicants may be referred to survey for stage 3 or stage 4 measures. Stage 3 comprises loft insulation and cavity wall insulation; stage 4 offers a range of measures including insulation, draught proofing and heating systems. Again, such measures are offered no matter what type of fuel is used for heating.

  Applicants are also offered benefit checks, which can contribute significantly to reducing fuel poverty by increasing income. By the end of November, 553 older households had been helped by the pension service to increase their annual income, by an average of £921. One hundred and forty eight families have had a benefit check by Citizens Advice Direct which identified a potential increase to their annual income by an average of £2,311.

Fuel Poverty

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place regarding the use of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuel cell boilers for homes that cannot access mains gas.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider offering liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuel cell boilers as an option under the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: Fuel cell gas boilers, which generate electricity as well as heating and hot water, have already been the subject of discussion between officials and Scottish Gas, the managing agent for the Energy Assistance Package.

  There are several issues to be addressed before a decision can be made on whether they should be offered as an option under the Energy Assistance Package, including long-term costs in use and whether any types of homes or household would be unsuited to this technology. Fuel cell gas boilers can be operated using both mains gas and liquid petroleum gas and we will investigate whether they could be a cost effective option both on and off the mains gas grid, taking into account the potential savings arising from the electricity generated.

Further and Higher Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students are attending (a) college and (b) university, broken down by (i) local authority area, (ii) UK Parliament constituency, (iii) Scottish Parliament constituency and (iv) Scottish Parliament region.

Michael Russell: The following tables show the number of enrolments by Scottish domiciles at Scottish colleges and higher education institutions (HEIs) for the academic year 2007-08, which is the most recent data available. Data on enrolments to HEIs includes those at HEIs in any part of the United Kingdom. Information is not held on enrolments to colleges outwith Scotland or HEIs outwith the United Kingdom.

  As much of Scotland’s higher education provision takes place in colleges, the numbers of higher education (HE) and further education (FE) enrolments are also given in each case.

  Table 1: Scottish Domiciled Enrolments in Scottish Colleges and UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by Local Authority Area: Academic year 2007-08

  

Local Authority
Higher Education Institutions
Colleges


Name
Total
HE
FE
Total
HE
FE


Total
173,145
172,725
420
457,375
45,225
412,155


Aberdeen City
8,490
8,475
15
16,620
2,030
14,590


Aberdeenshire
8,900
8,860
35
28,750
2,345
26,405


Angus
3,410
3,405
5
14,485
1,190
13,295


Argyll and Bute
3,040
3,025
15
6,985
555
6,425


City of Edinburgh
18,020
17,965
55
27,030
2,840
24,185


Clackmannanshire
1,385
1,385
-
3,905
400
3,505


Dumfries and Galloway
4,370
4,355
15
15,280
795
14,485


Dundee City
4,890
4,890
-
16,370
1,615
14,755


East Ayrshire
3,295
3,285
10
9,835
1,260
8,575


East Dunbartonshire
5,290
5,285
5
9,050
1,080
7,970


East Lothian
2,770
2,755
15
5,025
630
4,395


East Renfrewshire
4,745
4,730
15
6,320
775
5,540


Eilean Siar
1,320
1,315
5
2,530
100
2,430


Falkirk
3,485
3,475
10
11,180
1,505
9,675


Fife
9,705
9,675
30
54,585
4,885
49,700


Glasgow City
19,445
19,425
20
63,175
6,440
56,735


Highland
8,605
8,570
35
13,790
420
13,370


Inverclyde
2,615
2,610
5
7,595
1,045
6,550


Midlothian
1,970
1,965
5
4,535
570
3,960


Moray
3,540
3,530
10
5,390
220
5,170


North Ayrshire
3,560
3,540
20
11,675
1,635
10,035


North Lanarkshire
9,085
9,075
15
26,965
3,010
23,955


Orkney Islands
945
945
-
3,130
55
3,075


Perth and Kinross
5,215
5,205
10
9,780
515
9,265


Renfrewshire
6,325
6,310
15
15,935
1,880
14,055


Scottish Borders
3,310
3,285
20
7,915
595
7,320


Shetland Islands
1,120
1,115
5
5,795
60
5,735


South Ayrshire
3,745
3,735
10
7,235
1,130
6,105


South Lanarkshire
10,455
10,450
5
19,130
2,525
16,610


Stirling
3,255
3,245
10
5,900
630
5,270


West Dunbartonshire
2,510
2,510
-
9,775
1,075
8,700


West Lothian
4,325
4,325
5
11,705
1,400
10,305



  Table 2: Scottish Domiciled Enrolments in Scottish Colleges and UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by Westminster Parliamentary Constituency: Academic Year 2007-08

  

Westminster Constituency
Higher Education Institutions
Colleges


Name
Total
HE
FE
Total
HE
FE


Total
173,145
172,725
420
457,375
45,225
412,155


Aberdeen North
3,130
3,125
-
7,475
865
6,610


Aberdeen South
4,260
4,250
10
6,605
855
5,750


Airdrie and Shotts
2,105
2,095
5
6,680
700
5,980


Angus
2,260
2,255
5
11,305
875
10,430


Argyll and Bute
3,040
3,025
15
6,985
555
6,425


Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
2,630
2,625
5
6,510
915
5,595


Banff and Buchan
2,315
2,305
10
15,505
1,025
14,480


Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
2,630
2,610
20
6,635
510
6,120


Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
2,385
2,380
5
5,185
110
5,075


Central Ayrshire
2,620
2,615
5
6,225
925
5,300


Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
2,575
2,575
-
7,485
835
6,655


Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
2,515
2,515
-
8,255
985
7,270


Dumfries and Galloway
2,845
2,835
10
10,000
515
9,485


Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
2,570
2,565
-
7,255
430
6,825


Dundee East
2,940
2,935
5
9,580
935
8,645


Dundee West
3,100
3,100
-
9,950
995
8,960


Dunfermline and West Fife
2,570
2,560
5
12,680
1,150
11,530


East Dunbartonshire
4,600
4,595
5
6,790
845
5,940


East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
3,515
3,515
-
6,315
960
5,355


East Lothian
2,770
2,755
15
5,015
625
4,390


East Renfrewshire
4,740
4,730
15
6,315
775
5,540


Edinburgh East
3,195
3,185
15
5,600
610
4,985


Edinburgh North and Leith
4,190
4,175
15
5,935
685
5,250


Edinburgh South
3,925
3,920
10
3,810
415
3,395


Edinburgh South West
3,510
3,500
10
6,575
600
5,975


Edinburgh West
3,175
3,170
5
5,095
530
4,565


Falkirk
2,595
2,590
5
7,865
1,080
6,785


Glasgow Central
3,360
3,350
10
9,660
1,145
8,515


Glasgow East
1,740
1,735
5
11,900
880
11,020


Glasgow North
3,940
3,940
-
6,080
770
5,310


Glasgow North East
1,785
1,785
5
11,370
945
10,425


Glasgow North West
3,085
3,085
-
7,610
835
6,775


Glasgow South
3,615
3,615
-
8,000
910
7,085


Glasgow South West
1,895
1,890
5
8,530
960
7,575


Glenrothes
1,660
1,655
-
15,775
1,485
14,295


Gordon
3,795
3,785
10
9,850
870
8,985


Inverclyde
2,610
2,605
5
7,590
1,045
6,550


Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
3,725
3,715
10
4,930
160
4,770


Kilmarnock and Loudoun
2,775
2,765
10
7,895
1,025
6,870


Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
2,205
2,190
10
15,175
1,445
13,730


Lanark and Hamilton East
3,425
3,425
-
5,505
680
4,825


Linlithgow and East Falkirk
2,615
2,610
5
7,225
895
6,330


Livingston
2,600
2,600
-
7,795
930
6,865


Midlothian
1,970
1,965
5
4,530
570
3,960


Moray
3,540
3,530
10
5,390
220
5,170


Motherwell and Wishaw
2,580
2,575
5
6,800
725
6,080


Na h-Eileanan an Iar
1,320
1,315
5
2,530
100
2,430


North Ayrshire and Arran
2,570
2,550
20
8,075
1,165
6,915


North East Fife
3,275
3,265
15
10,950
805
10,145


Ochil and South Perthshire
3,315
3,310
10
7,050
590
6,460


Orkney and Shetland
2,065
2,065
5
8,925
115
8,810


Paisley and Renfrewshire North
3,325
3,320
5
8,050
935
7,110


Paisley and Renfrewshire South
2,995
2,990
10
7,880
945
6,935


Perth and North Perthshire
3,280
3,275
5
6,630
330
6,300


Ross, Skye and Lochaber
2,495
2,475
20
3,675
150
3,520


Rutherglen and Hamilton West
3,150
3,150
-
6,615
815
5,795


Stirling
3,255
3,245
10
5,895
630
5,265


West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
3,890
3,875
15
5,930
760
5,170


West Dunbartonshire
2,510
2,505
-
9,765
1,075
8,690



  Table 3: Scottish Domiciled Enrolments in Scottish Colleges and UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by Scottish Parliamentary Constituency: Academic Year 2007-08

  

Scottish Parliamentary Constituency
Higher Education Institutions
Colleges


Name
Total
HE
FE
Total
HE
FE


Total
173,145
172,725
420
457,375
45,225
412,155


Aberdeen Central
3,165
3,165
-
5,295
700
4,595


Aberdeen North
1,960
1,955
-
5,700
615
5,085


Aberdeen South
3,365
3,355
10
5,625
715
4,915


Airdrie and Shotts
1,920
1,920
5
6,285
650
5,635


Angus
2,555
2,550
5
10,600
895
9,700


Argyll and Bute
1,925
1,915
5
5,125
325
4,800


Ayr
2,395
2,390
5
4,430
700
3,730


Banff and Buchan
1,955
1,945
10
14,040
930
13,110


Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
2,120
2,115
5
4,480
100
4,380


Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
2,190
2,190
5
5,780
790
4,990


Central Fife
1,510
1,505
5
13,365
1,330
12,035


Clydebank and Milngavie
2,405
2,405
-
6,675
685
5,990


Clydesdale
2,445
2,445
-
4,775
555
4,220


Coatbridge and Chryston
2,120
2,115
-
6,080
670
5,410


Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
1,840
1,840
-
6,075
760
5,315


Cunninghame North
2,000
1,980
20
5,940
850
5,090


Cunninghame South
1,560
1,560
-
5,695
790
4,905


Dumbarton
2,525
2,520
5
6,530
780
5,755


Dumfries
2,485
2,485
-
8,180
460
7,725


Dundee East
2,295
2,290
-
8,305
815
7,490


Dundee West
2,540
2,540
-
7,815
780
7,035


Dunfermline East
1,340
1,335
5
9,580
775
8,800


Dunfermline West
2,145
2,140
5
9,980
930
9,050


East Kilbride
3,155
3,155
-
5,505
875
4,630


East Lothian
2,290
2,275
15
4,115
505
3,610


Eastwood
4,740
4,730
15
6,315
775
5,540


Edinburgh Central
3,345
3,335
5
4,775
515
4,255


Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
2,420
2,415
10
4,565
525
4,035


Edinburgh North and Leith
3,515
3,500
15
5,195
600
4,595


Edinburgh Pentlands
3,035
3,025
10
5,095
440
4,655


Edinburgh South
3,370
3,360
10
3,590
385
3,200


Edinburgh West
2,795
2,790
5
4,695
485
4,210


Falkirk East
1,730
1,720
10
5,710
750
4,960


Falkirk West
1,755
1,755
-
5,465
750
4,715


Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
1,880
1,870
10
7,100
340
6,760


Glasgow Anniesland
2,230
2,230
-
5,755
605
5,150


Glasgow Baillieston
1,255
1,255
-
9,165
640
8,525


Glasgow Cathcart
2,290
2,290
-
5,620
640
4,980


Glasgow Govan
2,500
2,490
5
6,700
720
5,980


Glasgow Kelvin
4,365
4,360
5
6,070
805
5,270


Glasgow Maryhill
2,025
2,025
-
6,535
660
5,875


Glasgow Pollok
1,495
1,495
-
6,330
770
5,560


Glasgow Rutherglen
1,980
1,980
-
4,905
620
4,285


Glasgow Shettleston
1,460
1,455
5
7,015
695
6,320


Glasgow Springburn
1,565
1,565
5
9,010
790
8,220


Gordon
3,320
3,310
10
9,625
685
8,940


Greenock and Inverclyde
1,955
1,950
5
5,955
780
5,170


Hamilton North and Bellshill
2,390
2,385
5
4,665
570
4,095


Hamilton South
2,110
2,110
-
3,720
440
3,280


Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber
3,545
3,530
15
4,930
185
4,745


Kilmarnock and Loudoun
2,445
2,440
10
6,860
900
5,960


Kirkcaldy
1,545
1,535
10
11,290
1,110
10,180


Linlithgow
1,980
1,975
-
4,910
570
4,340


Livingston
2,350
2,345
-
6,795
835
5,965


Midlothian
1,470
1,470
5
3,670
455
3,220


Moray
3,300
3,290
10
4,600
185
4,415


Motherwell and Wishaw
2,045
2,040
5
5,385
560
4,825


North East Fife
3,170
3,160
10
10,365
735
9,630


North Tayside
2,555
2,555
5
7,265
475
6,790


Ochil
2,390
2,390
5
5,950
600
5,350


Orkney Islands
945
945
-
3,130
55
3,075


Paisley North
1,975
1,965
10
6,210
730
5,480


Paisley South
2,200
2,200
-
6,215
715
5,495


Perth
2,995
2,985
5
5,655
270
5,385


Ross, Skye and Inverness West
2,940
2,925
15
4,380
130
4,245


Roxburgh and Berwickshire
1,565
1,545
15
4,095
290
3,800


Shetland Islands
1,120
1,115
5
5,795
60
5,735


Stirling
2,825
2,815
10
4,820
510
4,305


Strathkelvin and Bearsden
3,745
3,745
5
7,125
885
6,245


Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale
2,245
2,235
5
4,685
420
4,265


West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
3,865
3,850
15
5,865
765
5,100


West Renfrewshire
2,810
2,805
5
5,140
695
4,450


Western Isles
1,320
1,315
5
2,530
100
2,430



  Table 4: Scottish Domiciled Enrolments in Scottish Colleges and UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by Scottish Parliamentary Region: Academic Year 2007-08

  

Scottish Parliament Region
Higher Education Institutions
Colleges


Name
Total
HE
FE
Total
HE
FE


Total
173,145
172,725
420
457,375
45,225
412,155


Central Scotland
21,515
21,485
35
55,745
6,920
48,825


Glasgow
21,165
21,145
20
67,100
6,940
60,155


Highlands and Islands
17,215
17,150
65
34,965
1,145
33,820


Lothians
24,280
24,220
60
43,290
4,810
38,480


Mid Scotland and Fife
20,470
20,415
55
78,275
6,740
71,530


North East Scotland
25,015
24,960
55
72,870
6,900
65,970


South of Scotland
19,055
18,995
65
48,850
4,850
44,000


West of Scotland
24,355
24,290
60
56,110
6,895
49,215



  Notes:

  Data on Higher Education Institutions is supplied by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Data on Scotland’s Colleges is supplied by the Scottish Funding Council.

  All values are rounded to the nearest five with zero, one, and two being replaced with a dash.

  Sums may not equal totals due to rounding.

  Totals will differ slightly from previously published statistics as a small number of students have incomplete information for their home address prior to study.

Gypsies/Travellers

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors reference to the circumstances and needs of Gypsies/Travellers in local housing strategies, in accordance with planning guidance.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government and COSLA will jointly review each local housing strategy and, as part of the review, will examine whether there is evidence that equalities issues have been addressed, including the specific housing needs of Gypsies/Travellers.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scotland-based patients have received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment for the influenza A (H1N1) virus or related illness at (a) Glenfield, (b) Papworth and (c) Royal Brompton Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: Through existing reciprocal arrangements for specialist health services, five Scotland-based patients have received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment for the influenza A (H1N1) virus or related illness at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester; one Scotland-based patient has been treated at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, and no Scotland-based patients have been treated at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.

Homecoming Scotland

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19785 by Jim Mather on 30 January 2009, whether it will publish all of the (a) questions in and (b) answers to the YouGov Scotland Omnibus studies.

Jim Mather: The questions and the answers to the YouGov surveys will be included in the full report on Homecoming Scotland and this will be published in spring 2010.

Homecoming Scotland

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20442 by Jim Mather on 26 February 2009, how much it spent on online advertising to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: £481,139 was spent on online advertising from the Homecoming marketing budget. Homecoming Scotland 2009 messages were also an integral part of wider VisitScotland online marketing activity, including campaigns such as Winter White, Perfect Day, European Touring Campaign and long-haul marketing campaigns such as I am a Scot. In addition, Homecoming Scotland 2009 messages featured on gateway websites promoting Scotland.

Homecoming Scotland

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a geographical analysis of the new email addresses received during Homecoming Scotland 2009 as a result of online marketing.

Jim Mather: Yes, this information will be included as part of the final report for Homecoming Scotland.

Homecoming Scotland

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20442 by Jim Mather on 26 February 2009, whether it will provide (a) details of the evaluation of the online advertising spend, (b) the results of that evaluation and (c) an analysis of the online advertising spend compared with the total marketing cost of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: The full report on Homecoming Scotland will be published in spring 2010. This report will include information on the success of the advertising campaign.

Homecoming Scotland

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16990 by Jim Mather on 5 November 2008, what the total marketing cost was of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: The total budget and cost of Homecoming Scotland’s marketing activity is approximately £2 million.

  Homecoming has been delivered within budget and a breakdown of costs, including those for marketing, will be included in the final report.

Homecoming Scotland

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the full EKOS report on Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: Yes, the full EKOS report on Homecoming Scotland will be published as an appendix to the final report.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20924 by Alex Neil on 10 March 2009, when it will publish its plans for recording the provision of housing support services.

Alex Neil: The detail and timescales for the new data collection will be determined following the completion of the work of the joint working group referred to in my replies to question S3W-20924 and the related answers to questions S3W-26591, S3W-26592 and S3W-26593 on 10 September 2009. The group met for the first time in December 2009 and it is envisaged that it will meet between three and four more times before completing its remit. Papers for the working group and minutes of the working group meetings will be published on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/SurveySupportingPeople.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27576 by Kenny MacAskill on 30 September 2009, on what date it expects the Scottish Crime Campus to be fully operational with all functions and staff located at the facility.

Kenny MacAskill: Subject to contract, the crime campus is expected to become fully operational by the middle of 2013.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies and functions it will locate at the Scottish Crime Campus.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Crime Campus will provide accommodation for the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and its partner agencies involved in tackling serious organised crime in Scotland. These agencies include parts of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs. The site will also provide a new forensic science laboratory. For operational and security reasons it would not be appropriate to publish details of all of the functions moving to the site.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it anticipates that each agency or function will move to the Scottish Crime Campus.

Kenny MacAskill: Subject to contract the first agency is expected to move into the Scottish Crime Campus by the end of 2012 with full occupation expected by mid-2013. This plan takes account of the demands placed on some of the agencies as a result of their involvement with security for the 2012 Olympics.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be sufficient space for all agencies involved in the Scottish Crime Campus at the Gartcosh site.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes. The building will provide accommodation for over 1,100 staff and the design team has worked closely with all the participating agencies to ensure the new building meets their staffing and operational requirements, including an allowance for some future expansion.

Lifelong Learning

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it gave to Inspiring Scotland in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.

Michael Russell: In the financial year 2008-09 the Scottish Government contributed £1.44 million to the 14:19 Fund. In 2009-10 it has committed £4 million to the 14:19 Fund.

Lifelong Learning

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding Inspiring Scotland received from sources other than the Scottish Government in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.

Michael Russell: In the financial year 2008-09, £2.191 million was received for the 14:19 Fund from sources other than Scottish Government. In the reporting period of the latest  14:19 Fund Investor Report, organisations within the 14:19 Fund obtained additional funding for their work levered by the Inspiring Scotland investment of an estimated £3.3 million.

Livestock

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to EU Regulation 21/2004 on the identification of sheep and goats, when it last met stakeholders to discuss the issue of within-business moves.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government met with stakeholders on 21 December 2009 to discuss this issue.

Livestock

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to EU Regulation 21/2004 on the identification of sheep and goats, when it next expects to meet stakeholders to discuss the issue of within-business moves.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government meets regularly with stakeholders to discuss all issues relating to EU Regulation 21/2004. However, there are no future meetings planned for this particular issue.

Local Government

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Chief Executive of Fife Council.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with chief executives of all councils, including the chief executive of Fife Council.

NHS Hospitals

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13290 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 May 2008, how much will remain in each year from 2009-10 to 2017-18 from the capital allocation to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde after funding for the new Southern General Hospital has been excluded.

Nicola Sturgeon: The capital allocations available in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are unchanged. The level of capital resources available to all NHS boards after 2010-11 will be subject to the outcome of future spending reviews and the outcome of a review of the basis of distributing capital resources to NHSScotland bodies, which is to be undertaken in 2010.

NHS Hospitals

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13291 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 May 2008, whether it will provide an updated list of the sources of anticipated capital receipts that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will use to contribute funding for the new Southern General Hospital and in which financial year each receipt is expected to be obtained.

Nicola Sturgeon: The sources of anticipated capital receipts are unchanged from the previous answer given to S3W-13291 on 30 May 2008.

  The exact timing and final value of individual capital receipts will be dependent upon detailed negotiations, prevailing property market conditions and factors such as planning consent(s) at the time at which disposals are undertaken.

NHS Staff

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that newly qualified midwives find positions in the health service.

Nicola Sturgeon: We have in place a One Year Job Guarantee Scheme for midwives who, through no fault of their own, have difficulties finding employment. The Scheme is designed to ensure all newly qualified midwives have the opportunity to build on the clinical experience gained during their pre-registration programme.

National Health Service

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NHS Highland and what issues were discussed.

Nicola Sturgeon: I meet all national health service chairs regularly. The last meeting was on 23 November. My most recent meeting with NHS Highland representatives was on 7 December when I chaired the board’s annual review. We discussed the board’s performance against Scottish Government targets and local service priorities .

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it calculates the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question.

Bruce Crawford: The methodology for calculating the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question is set out in the Scottish Government Finance Study, published on 2 October 2008, copies of which were placed in The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46897).

Police

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many support staff were employed by each police force in each quarter from April 2008 to December 2009.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Number of Police Staff1, 2 Employed By Each Police Force in Each Quarter3 From April 2008 to December 20094

  

Police Force
Q2 2008
Q3 2008
Q4 2008
Q1 2009
Q2 2009
Q3 2009


Central
369
339
334
335
334
343


Dumfries and Galloway 
251
252
252
252
258
257


Fife
477
476
479
522
469
473


Grampian 
722
720
710
720
725
744


Lothian and Borders
1,195
1,186
1,202
1,211
1,211
1,257


Northern
334
332
343
355
361
360


Strathclyde
2,501
2,474
2,502
2,536
2,550
2,571


Tayside
478
478
488
509
505
517


Scotland5
6,328
6,258
6,310
6,440
6,414
6,522



  Notes:

  1. All figures are expressed in terms of full-time equivalent (FTE) police staff, rounded to the nearest whole number.

  2. Figures include all police staff employed by the force, including those on secondment, central service, long-term sick leave and maternity/adoption leave, but excluding those on career breaks.

  3. Figures are as at the end of the respective quarter - Q1 = 31 March, Q2 = 30 June, Q3 = 30 September and Q4 = 31 December.

  4. The number of support staff employed by each police force in Q4 2009 (as at 31 December 2009) will become available in March 2010.

  5. Scotland totals may not equal the sum of the parts due to rounding.

Post Office

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support post offices and sub-post offices in (a) urban areas and (b) remote and rural areas in light of their importance to local communities.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the level of business in post offices.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the collaboration and co-location of a range of public service providers in post offices.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is increasing the business in sub-post offices in remote and rural areas by increasing the amount of work from the Scottish Government and its agencies and if so, how.

Jim Mather: Post offices and postal services are a matter wholly reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government recognises the valuable social role of post offices, particularly in deprived and remote communities across Scotland, and we are committed to doing all we can to encourage sustainable postal services which meet the needs of all our communities.

  The Scottish Government has set the strategic direction and overarching outcomes for the public sector in Scotland through the National Performance Framework. Public bodies should be actively looking for ways to work collaboratively with each other, and other partners, notably local authorities, the third sector and private sector, to deliver continuous improvements in the services they provide to communities. Community planning partnerships, led by local authorities, are best placed to take decisions at local level on how best to deliver local public services. I would encourage them to consider what opportunities there might be to deliver those services alongside local post offices to aid their viability.

Post Office

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available to post offices and sub-post offices to support the provision of services other than postal services.

Jim Mather: Post offices and postal services are a matter wholly reserved to the UK Government.

  The UK-wide Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme could be a potential source of finance for those branches which are managed on an agency or franchise basis which may be eligible for an EFG backed loan, subject to satisfying an approved EFG lenders commercial criteria as per any other EFG loan. Firms wishing to pursue this option should contact their bank or one of the approved lenders. Details of the EFG can be found on the Business Link website at:

  http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/gsdDetail?type=GSD&itemId=1081834978.

  Financial assistance may also be available under the Scottish Rural Development Programme/Rural Priorities. Information on the SRDP can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP.

  Advice and support is also available through the Business Gateway http://www.bgateway.com.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners took part in literacy programmes in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is not available in the form requested. The SPS do collate the number of literacy learners on a monthly basis which includes those who are continuing from the previous month, as well as new learners starting during the month.

  The table below provides the average monthly figure:

  

Prison
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009 - to date


Aberdeen
54
29
54
78


Addiewell
-
-
-
183


Barlinnie
232
243
228
250


Cornton Vale
41
43
41
26


Dumfries
61
60
46
62


Edinburgh
165
168
169
253


Glenochil
22
21
48
21


Greenock
96
128
121
120


Inverness
71
66
64
72


Kilmarnock
Unknown
61
69
59


Open Estate
146
146
69
56


Perth
99
117
150
164


Peterhead
135
91
60
103


Polmont
225
324
166
244


Shotts
101
92
46
129


Totals
1,448
1,589
1,331
1,820

Prison Service

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are ex-service personnel.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table shows the total number of prisoners, currently in custody, who are recorded as being ex-service personnel.

  

Prisoner Forces Service
Number of Prisoners


Air Force
6


Army
107


Navy
8

Prison Service

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners may have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available regarding prisoners with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Services’ electronic healthcare records database, GPASS, currently records a total of 37 prisoners with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Prison Service

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available regarding ex-service personnel in the prison estate diagnosed with or who may have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service does not currently record data specifically regarding the number of ex-service personnel with or who may have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Prison Service

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ex-service personnel in prison have a mental health problem.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) does not centrally record this information. The SPS healthcare records do not record whether a prisoner is ex-service personnel to allow for cross referencing of military career with diagnosis.

Roads

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs are expected to be created and safeguarded by the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and whether it still expects the route to be completed by the end of 2012.

Stewart Stevenson: We expect several hundred people to be employed on its construction and once completed it is estimated that it will create around 14,000 jobs in the North East over 30 years.

  The principal Orders require to be approved by Parliament and subject to that being given, we will need to review the remaining stages of the project before issuing a definitive timetable.

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects to start preparatory work for the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness in the current parliamentary session.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has decided on a funding mechanism for the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30009 on 11 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what schedule is required to be followed by the contractor responsible for gritting the A9 between Perth and Inverness on (a) Monday to Friday, (b) Saturday and (c) Sunday.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions need to be met before it is deemed necessary to grit the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected response time is for the contractor to grit the A9 between Inverness and Perth.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the provisions for clearing snow on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Stewart Stevenson: The contractual requirements that our Operating Company, Scotland TranServ, has to deliver are set out in a document that is available on the Transport Scotland Website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/reports/north-west-unit/Schedule7/C-S7P2-NWUnitv1_2.pdf.

  The Operating Companies are also required to prepare an annual winter service plan and this is also available at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/roads/NW_Winter_Service_Plan_2009.pdf.

Schools

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for ministers calling in a decision to close a school by a local authority, as set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill as passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2009.

Michael Russell: Section 17 of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act, as passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2009, sets out the grounds for which Scottish ministers may call in a local authority decision to close a school. In summary, ministers will only call in a decision if there is evidence of the local authority failing to comply in a significant way with the requirements set out in the act, or failing to take proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision, http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/23-Schools/b23bs3-aspassed.pdf .

Schools

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers may call in a decision to close a school by a local authority, as set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill as passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2009, only if that school is defined as rural.

Michael Russell: Section 15 of the Schools (Scotland) (Consultation) Act, as passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2009, provides for ministers to call in any local authority decision to close a school, be that an urban or rural one, http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/23-Schools/b23bs3-aspassed.pdf .

Schools

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill as passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2009 changes the consultation process that a local authority must undertake for proposed school closures compared with prior legislative requirements.

Michael Russell: The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act, as passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November, supersedes the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc.)(Scotland) Regulations 1981, and establishes an updated and strengthened consultation process that local authorities must apply to all proposals for closures and other major changes to schools.

  Amongst the changes to the process are: increasing the statutory consultation period (from 28 days to six weeks); extending the list of statutory consultees to include pupils, teachers, community planning partnerships and community councils; introducing a transparent mechanism for dealing with allegations of inaccuracies or omissions in the local authority’s proposal paper; setting out a formal role for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in every consultation, and allowing additional time to enable the community to respond to the authority’s report before the final decision is taken.

Schools

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what scope it has to intervene in a local authority consultation in relation to a proposed school closure if the Scottish Government believes that the consultation is flawed, is based on an incorrect premise or if it receives a report to that effect.

Michael Russell: Under the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981, Scottish ministers involvement in local authority consultations on school closures is restricted to the following arbitrary circumstances:

  Where primary pupils are involved and the alternative schools is five or more miles distant from the school to be closed;

  Where secondary pupils are involved and the alternative school is 10 or more miles distant from the school to be closed;

  Where the school to be closed is 80% or more full to capacity, at the time the proposal to close is made, and

  Where the closure would mean a reduction in denominational education provision in the area, or that there might be significant deterioration in the denominational provision.

  In such circumstances, the local authority must refer its decision to close a school to Scottish ministers for consent. These are the only circumstances in which the Scottish Government can become involved in local authority closure proposals.

  The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act, which was passed unanimously by Parliament on 19 November 2009, will repeal the 1981 Regulations and introduce a new ministerial power to call in any school closure decision where there is evidence of the local authority failing to comply in a significant way with the requirements set out in the act, or failing to take proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision.

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and local authority education officials since May 2007 about the principles and procedures for school closures in adverse weather conditions.

Michael Russell: No such discussions or meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary and council education officials. There has been and continues to be, especially during the current period of severe weather, appropriate and close liaison between Scottish Government and council officials about these matters.

Weather

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prepare for the consequences of the forthcoming thaw.

Roseanna Cunningham: Although a thaw is now taking place in many parts of Scotland, there is currently no indication that the rate of thawing will result in severe flooding problems, nor have any official SEPA flood warnings been issued. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with SEPA’s flood warning staff and the Met office to monitor the situation. Local authorities have been briefed on the importance of ensuring drainage is clear and that piles of cleared snow are situated in areas that are not vulnerable to flooding. In response to the severe weather, the Scottish Government has convened its resilience room, and all strategic co-ordinating groups are providing updates on potential flooding problems.